In echoing their respective countries’ call for the withdrawal of Russia’s forces from Ukraine, the US, the UK and Canada yesterday called on Guyana to also support this position.
“Every country in the international community has the ability to stand up and indicate their support for international law and we would be very pleased if Guyana were able to issue a statement today indicating its support for these principles,” Canadian High Commissioner Nicole Giles said.
Fellow High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, Andrew Ayre and Charge d’ Affaires of the United States Embassy, Bryan Hunt echoed Giles’ position, during a joint press conference the three envoys held yesterday at the Canadian High Commission.
The envoys stated that their action was to garner the attention of Guyana and support on the plight of the Ukrainian people as the more support is obtained the greater the pressure will be on Russia to completely remove its troops. The Ukraine has charged in recent days that it has been invaded by Russian forces though Moscow has denied this. A ceasefire between Ukrainian forces and separatists in the east of the country, backed by Russia, has eased tensions somewhat in what has become Europe’s worst flashpoint since the end of the Cold War.
For his part, Ayre added that Guyana should be supportive not only because of hallowed international principles of conduct but should also think of its own similarities with the Ukraine.
“Where Guyana finds itself and links to the Ukraine-Russia situation is (that) there are two countries that have illegitimate claims to Guyana’s territory and therefore there is a parallel here,” he said, in what was a clear reference to Venezuela and Suriname.
For his part, the US Charge d’ Affaires emphasized that Guyana and every other country in the world, should be concerned about their sovereignty. “Every country has a stake in what happens in Ukraine…whether British, American, Canadian or Guyanese or any other extraction because at the end of the day if we allow any country to occupy the territory of another we are simply undercutting hundreds of years of international rules of law…,” Hunt stated.
All three envoys referred to Russia’s invasion of the Crimean Peninsula – which had been part of Ukraine – and its subsequent annexation by Moscow. They expressed skepticism of a peaceful solution to the crisis until the Crimean Peninsula is cleared of Russian troops. “Canada finds this unacceptable. (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin’s actions raise serious questions about Russia’s credibility and its role in negotiating a peaceful resolution with Ukraine,” Giles asserted as she read her part of the joint press statement.
“There will be repercussions for Russia’s blatant acts of aggression and decision to disregard these basic tenets. Canada stands ready with its international partners to take further measures to isolate the Putin regime,” she added. Moscow is facing a series of new sanctions from the West over the Ukraine crisis.
Ayre said that his country echoes this position and added that while President Putin has said that Russia was willing to find a peaceful soloution to the conflict it continues to reinforce troops in the Ukraine. “It is simply not enough to engage in talks in Minsk (where Russian and Ukrainian leaders recently met), while Russian tanks continue to roll over the border into Ukraine. Such activity must cease immediately,” he stated.
Hunt said bluntly that his country sees Russia as a rule breaker, holding the Crimean people under duress. Said Hunt “We see Russia’s actions for what they are: a deliberate effort to support, and now fight alongside, illegal separatist in another sovereign country.”
To this end he said that his country will not accept Russia’s occupation and illegal “annexation” of Crimea or any part of Ukraine.
The ABC countries informed that even as they continue to give financial and technical assistance to the Crimean people they will continue their efforts to edify the Guyanese populace on the importance of their support as they work to bring peace to the millions in Crimea.
Moscow’s embassy in Georgetown has also issued a stream of statements in recent weeks countering the west’s position on the situation in the Ukraine.
